WATCH all the amazing reactions to Rory McIlroy’s 72nd hole eagle at the Irish Open

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[Pictures: Richard Heathcote]

Rory McIlroy captured the career Grand Slam at the Masters back in April, joining only five other men in the history of the game to accomplish the feat.

No matter what happened, wow could his year possibly get any better?

Well, that’s quite an easy answer. He admitted months ago that he found it difficult to find motivation for the rest of the season after accomplishing what is likely the biggest achievement of his professional career. That was his third victory of the season and he then struggled in the other three majors (T-47, T-19, T-7) and didn’t win another event.

Until Sunday (Monday AEST), when shot 68-66 over the weekend to win the Irish Open at the K Club in County Kildare. It was his second triumph in his national Open (2016) and this one came with a 72nd hole eagle putt from 28 feet that sent his nation into a tizzy.

There was still more work to do as the eagle only tied Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren. But after both made birdie each of the first two times, Lagergren hit his approach in the water the third time and McIlroy simply two-putted for birdie and the victory. McIlroy won three of his four tournaments this year via playoff.

Here is a compilation of all the various videos and social media reaction to McIlroy’s eagle on the 18th hole. It is quite wonderful to see all the happiness, especially from all the young kids in attendance. He was quick to point out afterward that the Ryder Cup is in two weeks in New York and he hopes to hear similar cheers from all the European fans who may be in the gallery at Bethpage Black.